Note: To observe the Jubilee Year of Mercy (which runs through November 20), for several weeks I featured women who exemplify one of the corporal or spiritual works of mercy. Today we wrap up with pray for the living and the dead.
The Basics: Born March 25, 1823, in France; died February 7, 1871, in France; beatified May 26, 1957, by Pius XII; feast day, February 7; woman religious.
The Story: Eugenie was the third of six children in a relatively prosperous family in the Lille area, and attended a convent school. From an early age, she felt a call to pray for those in purgatory–in Catholic 
parlance, souls being purified after death to prepare to enter heaven. But as she grew, she also saw increasing poverty among people here on earth. In 1856, she founded the Society of the Helpers of the Holy Soul and about two years later, with five other women, took their initial vows. In addition to the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, the women vowed to “pray, suffer, and labor for the souls in purgatory.” They believe they love those in purgatory, in addition to praying for them, by serving with love and compassion the sick and the poor living today. In religious life, Eugenie became Mary of Providence. She was only forty-five when she died, but the congregation continues to serve and pray in 118 communities in twenty-two countries today.
Eugenie’s Wisdom: “If one of our friends was imprisoned in a house of fire, how we should rush to her help. Then think of how we should try to deliver the souls in purgatory.”
What We Can Learn from Eugenie: Eugenie’s ministry shows the balance that can be struck in praying for the living and dead by both actions and words. Does your ministry balance need a bit of retooling? How can you bring it into harmony?
To Learn More About Eugenie: Check out the site for the Helpers of the Holy Souls community.
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my books, Blessed Are You: Finding Inspiration from Our Sisters in Faith or Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
